In the heart of Los Angeles lies a stark reality: a realm where, despite the constant sunshine, darkness has reigned for over a century. Skid Row, a half-square-mile area centered around the Union Rescue Mission at 545 South San Pedro Street, epitomizes urban decay. Here, chaos, addiction, and despair mingle with outdated diseases, creating an environment reminiscent of a dystopian nightmare.
Roughly 10,000 individuals reside within this encampment, navigating a landscape littered with garbage, human waste, vermin, and decay. Their transient lives unfold on gritty ground made up of broken concrete, glass, and gravel. Disturbingly, medieval diseases like typhus and necrotizing fasciitis are rampant, infecting both the homeless and those who attempt to assist them.
Consider Reverend Andy Bales, the CEO of the Union Rescue Mission. He possesses a generous spirit and a fierce dedication to his mission, influenced by a family history of homelessness. After distributing water bottles to those in need, he fell victim to three various lethal bacteria—E. coli, strep, and staph. This deadly trio wreaked havoc on his health, forcing him to make an unimagineable choice: to save his leg or his life.
Nowadays, Rev. Bales navigates the streets in a wheelchair, sometimes utilizing a prosthetic limb. Yet, he continues to embody resilience, remaining committed to his mission of rescue. Earlier this year, he offered a poignant reflection after considerable on-the-ground research:
“This place is like a Petri dish for disease.”
District 14 Councilmember José Huizar, who oversees Skid Row, might concur. Yet, after his office was raided by the FBI last year, he’s been somewhat preoccupied.
Addressing the Epidemic
Skid Row is just the epicenter of a growing homeless crisis in Los Angeles. The situation extends into nearby areas, from the San Gabriel Valley to Long Beach, with lesser-known cities falling victim to a similar fate.
Regions such as East LA, Temple City, El Monte, and many others face a grim reality, intertwining mass homelessness with crime and social issues. According to the latest data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, there are around 58,936 homeless individuals throughout Los Angeles County.
This homelessness crisis has become a significant embarrassment for local and state officials. Instead of advocating for policies that encourage development, they resort to extensive programs funded by taxpayers while businesses flee the state amidst rising costs.
For instance, LA County’s Measure H has allocated $460 million for the fiscal year 2019-20, marking a $58 million increase from the previous year, all aimed at confronting this escalating crisis. Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent budget revision introduced another $650 million in temporary funding.
Funded by a .25 percent hike in the county sales tax—which now sits at 9.5 percent—along with city-level taxes that can push the total to over 10 percent, the burden on residents is undeniable. For example, Compton’s sales tax stands at 10.25 percent, alongside other taxing measures impacting daily life.
However, the purpose behind Measure H and similar programs raises questions. Critics argue they primarily serve to sustain an entrenched system rather than genuinely assist the homeless. These initiatives often benefit select non-profits instead, turning into a massive financial undertaking that does not address the root of the problem.
Elizabeth Warren’s Vision
Wealth redistribution and systemic corruption are pillars of progressive socialism. California’s experiments with these policies have resulted in significant turmoil. Voting for Elizabeth Warren, a woman with ambitious plans, threatens to escalate this crisis on a national scale.
On October 3, Warren revealed her latest labor initiative titled Empowering American Workers and Raising Wages. This plan aims to employ:
“…bold executive action, and leverage the federal procurement process to pursue the most progressive agenda for workers since the New Deal.”
For some, this strategy appears more likely to result in job losses than gains. Warren has advanced a total of 48 distinct plans to date, encompassing ideas ranging from an Ultra-Millionaire Tax to universal childcare.
Are these plans genuinely capable of revitalizing America? Do you find the pull of progressive socialism enticing?
If you’re curious, take a walk down San Pedro Street through Skid Row on a weekday evening as the Union Rescue Mission serves dinner. Witness the throngs of individuals—where local government seems to perpetuate madness. As Rev. Bales once remarked:
“Skid Row is the worst man-made disaster in the United States. By far.”
Perhaps he’s right. If Warren prevails, a reality akin to Skid Row may soon spread to your own community.
Sincerely,
MN Gordon
for Economic Prism
Return from Elizabeth Warren’s Plans to MAGA to Economic Prism
